Rensselaer offers study abroad and exchange opportunities for undergraduate students in more than 15 countries on five continents. As part of “International Education Week,” a national effort to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide, the Office of International Programs and the Office of the Student Experience will host a series of programs on the Rensselaer campus from Nov. 13-19.

“International Education Week,” a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education, is an annual effort to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to enjoy the vitality that international education brings to our campus,” Prabhat Hajela, professor of aerospace engineering and vice provost and dean of undergraduate education. “We celebrate the presence of an increasing number of international undergraduate and graduate students on our campus, and of Rensselaer students who have studied and worked abroad. Their experiences represent a window to the world that others can learn from, and in turn, be motivated to seek the benefits of an education enriched by global experiences.”

At Rensselaer, the series of events will kick off on Sunday, Nov. 13, with the screening of Burning in the Sun. The program, held in collaboration with the Science and Technology Studies (STS) Sustainability Film Series, will take place in the Russell Sage Lab, room 3303, at 4 p.m. The film is an inspirational portrait of a young West African man who starts a business building solar panels from scratch and selling them to rural customers in Mali. Following the screening, a panel discussion and reception will be held.

On Monday, Nov. 14, author and international educator Kris Holloway will be on campus to talk about her book, Monique and the Mango Rains, Two Years with a Midwife in Mali. The memoir explores her experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, West Africa. Prior to the event, the Rensselaer Union bookstore will have a limited supply of the publication for purchase. Any remaining copies will be available for cash sale only on the day of the event. Following her talk, Holloway will be available to sign copies of her book. The luncheon event will take place in the Heffner Alumni House dining room beginning at noon.

Additional events planned for the week include a passport application table, international cuisine offerings served in the dining halls, and several study abroad information sessions. Throughout the week, Rensselaer students who have previously participated in study abroad programs will be invited to wear “ask me about study abroad” pins. The initiative is meant to encourage students to think about study abroad or other international experiences by hearing firsthand accounts from other students.